Clean green leafy machine

But seriously, I just don't know how people can succeed on VCLD, I mean, surviving on shakes and soups - and not many of those - crikey, you must be hungry all the time! I know a few people here have done Exante, etc - how did you all get on?

Silver Member

But seriously, I just don't know how people can succeed on VCLD, I mean, surviving on shakes and soups - and not many of those - crikey, you must be hungry all the time! I know a few people here have done Exante, etc - how did you all get on?

It is hardcore! You are in ketosis though, so you don't feel hungry after the first few days/ a week. For some people who have done the diet merry-go-round for years and tied themselves in knots weighing this, measuring that, can eat this, can't eat that, it's a blessed relief to just not be able to eat ANYTHING!! I know I felt like that. I managed 10 weeks completely abstaining from food, lost 2.5 stone and felt great. However, it was the re-introducing food element that went wrong, it has to be so carefully managed and obviously I hadn't learnt enough . If you have a lot of weight to lose and can do the re-feeding bit successfully then there's alot to be said for VLCDs. Having said that, I'm very glad to be back in the land of the eating

Determined to succeed!

I also did a VLCD and found it really easy... no confusion, no hunger and no weighing! Occasional cravings but you learn to identify and manage them.

I did it for five months and lost 5 stone... came off it in Jan 2009. Have since put on 1.5 stone, but that's been cos I've overeaten during break ups, losing jobs etc... am now getting it down again. I didn't do the Route to Management part or any maintenance.

It works but if u come off and keep eating the same quantities as before u started 'of course' you will gain it all back. Trick is keeping your head in gear.

Good on Pauline!

Week 1: -6lbs / Week 2: -1lb / Week 3: -1lb

Losing weight with Slimming world, attempting to get fit with stupidly early morning gym sessions, planning our wedding for Sep 2015 and facing our first round of IVF starting in April... *boom* head explodes

Silver Member

I think it depends what stage of desperation you're at! It served me well at the time, and introduced me to ketosis if course but you still have to have a long term way of eating for after. I think Pauline looks loads better than she did, tho perhaps a rethink on the hair?!

Gold Member

ok i'm being cheeky here and just jumping in on the
vlcd bit without reading the article
i did the shakes,didn't like the soups:yuk:
the bars were sometimes a god send,so i could chew something.
no worries about what to have,it was all sorted in a packet,
no decisions to make. it went pair shaped when i came back to food,ate more than i needed or even wanted if the truth be known
and thought "ha,i look good,i can eat that ! " well no hunny
no you can't,and my three stones went back on,in an alarmingly(sp) speedy time,and with it came the unhappiness
that i thought i had shifted on,and the health problems.
would i do it again. umm yes i would,what's stopping me
the money side of it. but have i the strength to follow a proper
woe i'm not sure if i believe in myself enough .
gosh.....have i wandered off there ?
and as for Pauline,i saw her on family fortunes last night
i thought she looked very well,apart from the wardrobe side of things,i thought she could have looked amazing,maybe she is still seeing herself as "big" ?

Silver Member

I did Exante and lost 7 stone in 7 months I switched to calorie counting, weight watchers then Atkins and got impatient. Now thinking of coming back to Atkins as I really enjoyed it and have realised that it's quite a doable diet. All diets work and for me the weight going at a fast rate was my incentive to stay on a VLC diet. It's only now that it's harder, before it didn't phase me cooking dinner for others or them eating in my presence. As l had been obese for years, Exante was my miracle. I know my eating habits have changed only a little bit but l hope Atkins will teach me a new way of eating.